Almonds: Tasty Ideas
The nutritional profile of almonds allows you to incorporate them into a healthy diet, and their wonderful flavor and texture makes “traditional” foods that much more special.
Bursting with flavor, savory seasoned almonds are the perfect topping for your favorite dish. In a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, toss whole natural or slivered almonds in a small amount of olive or coconut oil until golden. Add your choice of dried herbs, then sprinkle over salads and vegetables.
Satisfy your palate while watching your waistline by steaming your favorite fresh fish and vegetables and sprinkling them with toasted, sliced almonds. Serve with wedges of lemon or lime. You get all the flavor and all the benefits of a healthy, low-fat meal.
Plain roasted chicken is enhanced by stuffing it with coarsely chopped, toasted whole almonds.
To make surprisingly delicious and crunchy "croutons," heat your oven to 350 degrees, then toss 2/3 cup slivered almonds with 2 teaspoons olive or coconut oil in a shallow baking pan; arrange almonds in a single layer in pan and sprinkle with ½-1 teaspoon garlic powder before baking 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown, tossing once. Cool, and toss the "croutons" with green salads just before serving, or sprinkle on steamed vegetables.
Just walk down any aisle of your supermarket and you'll find almonds -- even in those places you wouldn't expect!
Nuts Help Reduce Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death
Over 21 thousand male participants were followed for an average of 17 years in a study called The US physicians' Health Study. The extremely large scale study found that men who rarely or never consumed nuts compared with those who consumed nuts 2 or more times per week had greater risks of sudden cardiac death.
The exact reason why eating nuts was associated with a reduced risk of CHD (coronary heart disease) mortality is still unknown but these and other recent findings suggest that eating nuts 2 or more times per week may reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Source: Archives of Internal Medicine 2002; 162:1382-7
